inch // noun, verb

■ noun [C] (abbr in.)

COLUMN INCH

a unit for measuring length, equal to 2.54 centimetres:

a screen measuring 3.4 inches by 1.8 inches

a 14-inch monitor

The device is only 4 inches wide, 2 inches high and an inch deep.

■ verb [no obj] (used with an adverb or a preposition)

to move slowly towards a particular level or position:

The euro inched higher to 122.69 against the yen.

The companies are inching towards a merger.

Property prices are inching ahead.

Oil production has inched up (by) 20 000 barrels a day.

• security rating
• seed
• seedcorn
• seek
• segment
• segmentation
• seigniorage
• seize
• seizure
• select
• selection
• selective
• selective attention
• selective demand
• selective distribution
• self
• self-actualization
• self-addressed
• self-adhesive
• self-appraisal
• self-assessment
• self-completion questionnaire
• self-correcting
• self-dealing
• self-development